In a resolution passed today at its meeting in Cologne, the German Animal Welfare Federation's general assembly called on the federal government to support animal shelters with investments, as promised in the coalition agreement. In addition, no time should be lost in implementing the other – few – animal welfare measures from the coalition agreement and in promoting animal welfare in the country beyond that.
“The CDU/CSU and SPD have promised help for animal shelters that are at their limits, but so far, the facilities have come up empty-handed in the draft budgets,” criticizes Thomas Schröder, president of the German Animal Welfare Federation. The more than 740 animal welfare associations organized in the German Animal Welfare Federation are demanding that the necessary funds, including for renovations, be included in the upcoming federal budgets so that the facilities can access them without bureaucratic hurdles.
VALUE-ADDED TAX ON VETERINARY SERVICES MUST BE ABOLISHED
In addition to investment aid from the federal budget, animal shelters need to be relieved of some of the burden – among other things, through mandatory neutering of outdoor cats and a ban on online trade in animals. Because the increased veterinary costs are a burden on both animal welfare activists and pet owners, and animals are increasingly being handed over to animal shelters for financial reasons, the associations organized in the German Animal Welfare Federation are calling for the first time for animal medicine to be treated on an equal footing with human medicine: “Value added tax on veterinary services must be abolished in order to relieve the burden on animal welfare and private pet owners.”
ANIMAL WELFARE IS A GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY
The umbrella organization and its member associations are also calling for improvements for the millions of animals in agriculture. “There needs to be a ban on manipulation and animal transport to third countries, as well as comprehensive funding for a more animal-friendly restructuring of husbandry systems,” President Schröder clarifies, criticizing the fact that the 1.5 billion euros promised by Federal Minister of Agriculture Alois Rainer for barn conversions are also not included in the budget plans. Alternative methods to animal testing must also receive greater financial support, and the reduction strategy must be consistently pursued. Inappropriate animal husbandry in circuses and zoos, as well as the killing of surplus animals, such as the recent killing of baboons at Nuremberg Zoo, must be prevented. The general meeting of the German Animal Welfare Federation also calls on the federal government to promote plant-based nutrition, reform the criminal offenses in the Animal Welfare Act, and regulate breeding-related traits that cause suffering. “The federal government has a duty to strengthen animal welfare, not least because of the national objective of animal welfare,” says Schröder. “We also expect the Federal Animal Welfare Commissioner to act independently and with expertise in animal welfare.”
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